Philippine Fashion Week Holiday 2013: Happy V. Andrada

Philippine Fashion Week Holiday 2013 proved to be another exciting showcase for Filipino designers.  One such designer that I always look forward to seeing a new collection is Happy V. Andrada and this season didn’t disappoint as models sashayed on the runway wearing tops, bottoms, jackets and dresses in fine woven fabrics with interesting architectural details.

PFW Holiday 2013 Happy V. Andrada Collection

Happy’s new collection highlights creations that promote eco-ethical fashion – using natural dyes in 100% organic woven fabrics indigenous to the Philippines – which enable her to help support local skilled artisans from various communities that produced the fabrics.  Happy muses, “I used environment friendly resources to create a collection that supports the Filipino artisan worker. Everything is 100% Philippine made.” In muted color palette of lilac, gray, red and black, Happy worked her magic using Abaca, Pineapple, Pineapple Silk, Pineapple Crepe, Philippine Dupioni, Jusi, Bamboo and Waterlily.  “I plan to use other colors that would fit other seasons for future collections.”

When asked what inspired her to come out with such patriotic collection, Happy shares, “I got invited to showcase my designs in Czechoslovakia, United States of America and Japan and so I decided to highlight Philippine made fabrics to say I am a proud Filipino and at the same time, these fabrics are saving the earth because they are eco-friendly materials and ethical in the sense of production, labor, etc.”

And does the collection have a name? “To be honest this Philippine Fashion Week Holiday 2013 collection doesn’t have a title, it’s just babies of my winning entry from FDCP Weaving the Future Smart Choice Award, where my collection was called Barong Reinvented. From there, my designs just evolved,” Happy volunteers. “I also played around with shapes like triangles, so I could call it Triangular Evolution, too.” 

With her wearable art ready for the market, she’ll definitely be on top of the list of fashionistas who are advocates of a healthy earth and giving back to society.

Designer Happy V. Andrada (extreme right)
with models at the PFW Holiday 2013 at SMX

About the Designer

Happy took fashion courses at Central Saint Martins in London. A dynamic young designer, she has been joining and winning shows and contests here and abroad – won as Emerging Designer at the 2012 Miami International Fashion Week International; won two major awards in the last 3rd Asian Weddings and Arts Competition in Hong Kong; won grand prize at the Swatch’s My Rabbit Story and Smart Choice Winner in the Weaving the Future competition by the Fashion Design Council of the Philippines, among others.

The creative lady behind her own fashion label is also an entrepreneur who co-owns F*ART Fashion ART with her equally talented and beautiful sister, book author Viva V. Andrada.

Want to wear her designs and be absolutely happy? Check out Happy V. Andrada’s Ready to Wear line at www.shop.happyandrada.com and you may also try out her creations at her store, F*ART Fashion ART.


As published in BusinessWorld's HerWord.com:
http://herword.com/fashion/happy_andrada_2013/index.php

Project Runway Philippines S3

Project Runway Philippines returns to the television screen after two successful seasons to continue the search for the next big Filipino fashion designer. Having watched a number of episodes from season 1 and 2, I am excited to see the new talents and challenges Project Runway Philippines Season 3 has in store for the participants.

A new season equals new host, in the person of beautiful model and creative jewelry entrepreneur Tweetie De Leon-Gonzalez. Together with the show's mentor Jojie Lloren, judges Apples Aberin and Rajo Laurel, Tweetie will take the competition to a whole new dimension.

PRP S3 new host Tweetie De Leon-Gonzalez

PRP S3 judge Apples Aberin

PRP S3 judge Rajo Laurel

15 young hopefuls from diverse backgrounds will compete in every challenge and vie for the top prize in the hopes of launching an illustrious career in fashion: Amor Albano, fashion designer from Laoag City; Cheetah Rivera, fashion designer from Manila; Enzo Libo-on, call center agent from Bacolod; Fatima Guerrero, fashion design student from Nueva Ecija; Glenn Gonzales, design apprentice from Pangasinan; Ionica Abrahan, stylist from Manila; Jenno Gacasan, graphic designer from Cebu City; Joseph Montelibano, PR executive from Parañaque; Karla Galang, fashion design instructor from Quezon City; Lenvil Paneda, costume designer from La Union; Milka Redoble, online fashion entrepreneur from Pasig City; MJ Alimanza, visual merchandiser from Zambales; Nel Claveria, overseas fashion designer from Camarines Sur; Normanie Santos, ex-Seminarian from Bulacan; and Yves Camingue, designer/stylist from Cebu City.

At the launch event held at the Genting Club of Resorts World Manila, Tweetie was introduced together with the challengers, who showed off their initial creations for the pilot episode.

Project Runway Philippines Season 3's grand winner will get 500,000 pesos in cash; 100,000 pesos worth of cash and beauty products from Pond's; a fashion spread in Mega Magazine featuring his final collection; a brand new Intuos4 Wacom unit and a full 4-year fashion design and technology scholarship from partner school iAcademy; sewing machines worth 300,00 pesos from Brother International; and an all-expense-paid trip to Paris to experience the Paris Fashion Week courtesy of L'Oreal Paris.

Catch the fashion fever every Sunday at 8 pm over at ETC.  For more information and updates, log on to http://www.facebook.com/OfficialProjectRunwayPH.

Filed under SHOWS

Rizal @150: Jose Rizal Stamp Design Contest & Exhibition

The National Historical Commission of the Philippines, in partnership with the Philippine Postal Corporation (Philpost) conducted the 150th Birth Anniversary of Jose Rizal Stamp Design Contest, a contest created to celebrate the sesquicentennial birth anniversary of Philippines’ national hero, Dr. Jose Rizal on June 19, 2011. It aimed to promote awareness of the life, ideals and greatness of Rizal and his contribution to Philippine history.

Far Eastern University’s Fine Arts students Marc Aran C. Reyes, Deanne Fernandez and Lex Kempho Y. Lacar were named winners in the college category. Heinritzh Sales and Ramon Vismonte of Team Manila won in the open category. Fernandez's and Reyes' output will appear as a stamp, while Lacar's piece will be featured in the First Day Cover Envelope that will be issued on June 19, 2011.

STUDENT CATEGORY

Deanne Fernandez' (FEU) Entry

The Noli me tangere symbolizes Rizal’s writing that has inspired Filipinos and awakened their nationalistic consciousness. The oil lamp stands for enlightenment and reason which was Rizal’s advocacy in attaining freedom. His face takes center stage as he is the most important part of the design.

Marc Aran Reyes' (FEU) Entry

The artist wanted to show Rizal standing with a dove beside him symbolizing Rizal’s aspiration for freedom. The Philippines, like a dove, is meant to be free from all kinds of oppression. Also depicted is the cover of the Noli me tangere, one of Rizal’s greatest novels. He also included the elements of the flag: the stars and the rising sun, symbolizing hope and bright future.

Lex Kempo Lacar's (FEU) Entry

To show how Rizal became a pillar of the nation, there is a depiction of the colors and elements of the National flag (blue, red, three stars and a sun). The sun also symbolizes Rizal’s peaceful quest for freedom.

OPEN CATEGORY

Heinritzh Sales' (Team Manila) Entry

The aim of the faceless profile is for us to reflect who Rizal really is and what he has done to our country. The red color symbolizes the courage demonstrated by Rizal in writing his two books which stirred the nationalistic revolution of his country. The white border represents our former colonial master, Spain. It also represents the theme, Rizal: Haligi ng Bayan. Rizal is placed partially outside the border, symbolizing his contribution in leading his country to independence. The same is applied in the figure 150, wherein it is partially out of the picture, symbolizing our gratefulness and celebration of his life for years to come.

Ramon Vismonte's (Team Manila) Entry

The design is rendered in monochromatic blue which symbolizes Jose as an advocate of reforms through peaceful and diplomatic means. The solid block at the left stands for the theme, Rizal: Haligi ng Bayan. It also signifies darkness and uncertainties. However, the sun at the background is for hope; suggesting to us to stay strong and be inspired by the legacy of Jose Rizal. The three stars represent Faith, Science and Creativity; things the artist associated with Rizal. The artist believes that that will make our country great. The angle by which Rizal is portrayed, looking up, suggest the feeling of being proud and hopeful for our country. The artist wants to convey the same message to his countrymen, at the same time, to be grateful and learn from the past.

The winning works of the students, a representation of the interpretations of their perceptions of Rizal and his significance in Philippine history, were used in a Special Limited Stamp Issue from Philpost, in commemoration of the 150th Birth Anniversary of Jose Rizal. The students were also awarded Certificates of Participation and Tokens of Recognition.

The contest was participated by students, amateurs and professionals; Jeremy Barns, director of the National Museum, Dr. Ngo Tiong Tak from Philippine Postal Corporation, Danilo Pangan from the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, and Fidel Sarmiento from the Art Association of the Philippines served as judges.

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In line with the celebration of the 150th birth anniversary of our National Hero, Jose Rizal, the Philippine Postal Corporation is coming up with the Jose Rizal@150 stamps which will be issued on June 19, 2011. It is classified as a “Commemorative” kind of issue with a denomination of P 7.00 and a quantity of 70,000 pieces each for two se-tenant pairs. Also available is a souvenir sheet with a denomination of P 150.00 and a quantity of 6,000 pieces.

Philpost has an exhibit of stamps and other memorabilia dubbed as “ Rizaliana Collection on Stamps Exhibit by Jorge Cuyugan and Philatelic friends” which opened last June 13 at the lobby of the historic Manila Central Post Office Building in Liwasang Bonifacio, Manila. The exhibit will run until the end of June.

On display are complete sets of Rizal stamps issued by PhilPost including winning artworks of the Jose Rizal stamp design contest conducted by the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP). The exhibit also contains an almost complete collection of Rizalian stamps and other philatelic items limited to his self portrait, monuments and works from the very first issue of 1906 to the latest issues of Rizal stamps on June 19.

The exhibit will feature all original items never before featured or shown in any exhibits for viewers to fully appreciate. Visitors and students will also have the chance to view special related trivia’s, pictures and Rizalian collections.